Electric plug.



F. DEISBR.

ELECTRIC PLUG.

APPLIOATION FILED oo'r.z4, 1911.

' 1,106,4A3.l l Patented Aug.`11,1914

2 BHEBTB*BHEET 1.

F. DEISER.

ELECTRIC PLUG. APPLICATION FILED 0013.24, 1911.

1,1 06,442. Patented Aug.11, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT onnrc FREDERICK DEISER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOE T0 CHVLI'L-ELECTRIC COM- PANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOISMA CORPOBATIOH- ILLINOIS.

nnncraic PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

v Patented Aug. 11, 119114..l

Application fue@ octgber 24, 191.1.y serial 210.656.457.

To all whom it may' concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK DEIBER, a

citizen of the United States, residing yat Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Plugs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates, more particularly, to l what are commonly termed rotatable socket-plugs formed of inner and outer relatively rotatable members, one of which 4is connected with a metal sleeve for screwing into the socket and forming one contact for the electrical circuit, and the other of ,which carries the contact for erigagement'with the other electrical contact of the socket and is` connected with the wires leading' from the My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in elevation of a socketplug constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of that part of the plug which enters the socket. Fig. 3 is an end view of the opposite end thereof. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section.taken at the line 4 on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a section taken at the lines 5 on Figs. 1 and 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a section taken at the' line 6 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 7 is a View in elevation of the outer, tubular, rotatable member of the plug. Figs. 8 and 9 are views in elevation of the two sections of the inner member of the plug. Figs. 10 and 11 are face views of the inner opposing faces of the sections shown in Figs. 8 and 9 respectively. Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views of the coperating contactsmembers for establishing electrical connection between one of the binding-posts on'the plug and the metal threaded sleeve onthe memberof Fig. 7. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the center contact carried by the inner plug-mem ber of Figs. 8 and 9; and' Fig. 15, av broken, sectional, View taken at the line 15 on Fig. 1, showing the shell and locking dog therefor.

My improved socket-plug, in its preferred embodiment, comprises, generally stated, an outer tubular member, or bushing, 15 of insulatmg material, such as vulcanized rubber, .0r fiber; a threaded shell 16 of metal having an lnwardly'fextending ange 16a on its inner end andadapted to be screwed upon the threaded end 17 of the bushing 15 and at whlch the plug screws into the threaded portion of a socket, as for example the usual electric-lampsocket (not shown) an inner contact-equipped member-.182.51 insulating material, las for example porcelain, to which theterminals of the wlres leading to the plug are connected, as hereinafter described, and 'Whichvis equipped with a contact for engaging 'with the -other contact of the socket referred to; and means for electrically connecting they-shell 16 to the respective wireterminal.

The bushing 1 5 is provided at` its outer open end with an inner annular flange 19 producing the restricted opening 20, and the screw-threaded portion'l'? of the bushing 15 is'longitudinally grooved, at opposite sides thereof, as represented at 21, land 22. The inner member 18 is formed of two separate semi-cylindrical sections 23 and 24. The inner surface of the section 23 contains a groove 25 which' extends to the outer end of the section- 23 and in which a metal-contact member. 26 snugly fits. The member 26 is provided at its outer end with a lug 27 which extends beyond the outer end of the plug (Figs. 4 and 5), and forms its center electric contact for engagement with the center contact of the socket into which the plug is in is held in place by screws 28 and 28a which 'screw into threaded openings 28b and 28,

respectively, in the section 23, the screw 28 forming a binding-post for one of the electric wires (not shown) of the plug, it being preferred that the section 23 be formed, on its inner face, with a pair of spaced ribs 29 and 30 extending on opposite sides of the in` ner end of the member 26, as represented.

The outer ends of the sections 23 and 24 are peripherally flanged as represented at 3l,

-sorted when in use. The contact-member 26 l the section 23 being recessed adjacent to the rib 30, as represented at 32, Afor receiving the depending section 33 of an arc-shaped member 34 of sheet-metal which lits, at its curved section 35, against the underside of the flange 31 on the section 23, a lug 36 on the section 33 fitting against the inner face of the sec- I tion artigiane sceivif? "which screws into athreadegl eninginthe'plu'g- I I v aggira.' bindingpos't for section 23 andserves" the other of the'plug-'wires referred.

The flat, inner, face of the section 24 is grooved as re resented in Fig. to permit the ribs 29an 3 0 and those parts connected i with 'the section -23 which extendbeyond its inner face, to lit within the section 24 and permit the sections 23 and 24 to it together without obstruction. e

VFitting against the -inner end-of the bushin 15 is a ring 38 of metal, which 1s provied with strip-sections 39 and 40 extending at angles to the ring 38 and fitting, pref-- erably under tension, into the grooves 21 and 22, respectively, the ring 38 thus '.bemg clampedy to the bushing 15. The-strip-section 39 contains a transversenotch 41and its-extremity is defiected withrelation to the other from t e bushing 15 to form a 'spring-dog 42 which serves to engage with corrugations 43 on the inner edge of the shell 16 when the latter is screwed to position on the' bush- 15 and prevent the latter from unscrew-` ing from the bushing until the dog 42 is lreeowires ,(not shown) for connectlon with which to a socket the plug is used, are first leased as by pressing it'inwardly -torelease it from the engaged corrugation 43. f.

To assemble the parts of the plug, the

inserted through the opening 20 in the bushing 15 and then connected, respectively, with -the binding posts 28 and 37. The sections 23 and 24 are then fitted flatwise together to the position illustrated in Fig..5, and said wires 'positioned tolie within ,opposing curved grooves 44 in the opposed faces of the sections 23 and 24 opening into recesses v46'in said sections, the grooves 44 preferably containing transversely-extending ribs l45 between which said wires are gr1pped -when the sections 23 and-,24 are forced together as 'I -by means of a screw-bolt 47, which releasably holds these sections together andprevents the wires from becoming .accidentally disconnected from the binding-posts. The member 18 is then introduced into the bushing 15 to 4the positionshown in Fig. 5 and the shell l 16 then `screwed tightly upon the bushing 15 to cause the spring-dog 42 to extend into one of the corrugations 43 and lock the shell 16 againstturning relative to the bushing 15. In this position of the shell 16 its ange 16'l overlaps the outer face of theange on the member 18 and thus serves to `prevent accidental separation of thev members 415 and 18.

When the plug is to be inserted into a soclsret to put 1t to use, the operator, grasping the bushing 15, screws-fit, at itsrshell 16,

into the socket until the central contact 27 of the plug is forced into'close engagement with the central contact ofthe socket'. This causes the arcmember 34 to be forced into ortion" thereof iny a direction .away

'close contact with i the `ring38, and as the ring 3 8 is inelectrical contact with the shell 16, ythrough'the medium of the strip-section 39, which preferably contacts with the shell I6 substantially'throughout the length of the former, a positive electrical connection between the shell 16 and binding-post 37 is e'ectedi As the bushing 15 is free to rotate about the'member 18 the plug screws into the socket without turning the member 18 4and thus twistin lof the/wires connected therewithis avoi ed.

The partsof the plug may be disassembled with ease byspringing the dog 42 inwardly, thereby unlocking the shell 16 and permitting it to be unscrewed from the bushing 15,

whereupon the member 18 may be withdrawn from the bushing 15 and access be had to the interior thereof.

Whatl. claim as new, and desire to secure 1. An electric plug comprising relatively rotatable members, a threaded metal shell screwed upon one of said members,e1ectrical connections onthe other of said members' for electric wires, a 'contact on said last referred to member 1n c1rcu1t'w1th one of said connectlons, 4means electrlcall connecting .said shell with the other of sai connections,

and means on said shell operating when the latter is screwed intoplace to members from separating.A

2. An electric plu `comprising a member provided with electrical connections for electric wires, a contacton said member in circuit with one of said connections, an apertured member andV embracing said firstnamed member, a threaded metal shell on said apertured member, and contacting metal 105 members confined between said first-named member and said apertured member and in circuit, respectively, with the other of said connections and wlth said shell.

.3. An electric plu comprising relatively rotatable members, e ectrical connections on one of s aid members for electric'wires, a

threaded metal shell on the other of said,

members and embracing the one of said members provided with said electrical connections, a contact'on said. last referred to memberin circuit with oneof said connections, and relatively movable contacting metal members one of which is connected .with rthe other of said connections and the other of- Awhich .engages withv said shell, for the purpose set forth.

4. An electric plu comprising relatively rotatable members, e ectrical connections on one of said members for electric wires, a threaded metal shell on the other of said members yand embracing the one of said members provided with said electrical connections, a contact on said last referred to member in circuit with one of said connections, and metal contacting members on said prevent said.

nections,

f of said connections and with first-named members and confined between transversely opposing portions of the latter, said .metal members being connected, respectively, with the other of said connections and With said metal shell.

5. An electric plu comprising relatively rotatable members aving transversely-extending opposing surfaces, electrical connections on one of said members for electric wires, a threaded metal shell on the other of said members and embracingthe one of said members provided with said electrical cona contact carried by said last referred to member and in circuit with one of said connections, contacting curved metal members confined between the opposing surfaces of said first-named members vand in circuit, respectively, with the other of said connections and with said shell, for the purpose set forth.

6. An electric plug com rotatable members provi ed with transversely-disposed opposing surfaces, electrical connections on one of said members for electric Wires, a threaded metal shell on the other of said members and embracing the one of said members provided with said electrical connections, a. contact on said last referred to member in circuit With one of said connections, contacting curved metal members connected, respectively, With said first referred to members and having sliding contact with each other, said metal members being electrically connected rising relatively said shell, for the purpose set forth.

7. An electric plug comprising relatively rotatable members, electric 'connections on one of said members for electric Wires, a contact on said last referred to member in circuit With one of said connections, a threaded metal shell on the other 0f said members, means electrically connecting said shell With the other of said connections, and

f means, operating automatically for releasably locking said shell in position, for the purpose set forth.

8. An electric plug comprising relatively rotatable members, electrical'connections on one of said members for electric Wires,-a Contact on said last referred to member in circuit with one of said connections, a threaded metal shell on the other of said members,

and. relatively movable contacting metal members, one of which is connected With .the other of which contacts with said shell and forms means for automatically locking the latter in position. 4

9. An electric plu comprisingrelatively rotatablemembers, e ectrical connections on one of said members for electric Wires, a contact on said last referred to member in circuit With one of said connections, relatively movable contacting metal members one of With the other said connections and the otherof which is connected With the other of said connections and thev other of which is provided With a spring-dog, and a threaded metal shell screwing upon the other of said first-named members and provided with a dog-engaging surface, for the purpose set forth.

10. An electric plug comprising relatively rotatable members` one of which is formed of sections separable longitudinally, electrical connections for wires in the' interior of said last referred to member and accessible upon separating the sections thereof, a contact carried by said last referred to member and in circuit with one of said last referred to sections, a threaded metal shell on the other of said members, and means for electrically connecting said shell with the other of said connections, for the purpose set forth.

11. An electric plug comprising relatively rotatable members, of longitudinally opposing sections, a contact on one of said sections provided with means for. connecting a Wire in circuit there- With, a metal member carried by said sec- 4 tional member and provided with means for electrically connecting the other of the Wires thereto, a threaded metal shell on the other of said first-named members, and a metal member carried by said shell-equipped member and engaging with said first-named metal member and in circuit with said shell, for the purpose set forth.

l2. In an electric plug, the combination of relatively rotatable members, one of Which is formed of longitudinally-opposing separable sections Containing opposed curved grooves opening through an end of said member, binding posts for electric wires located on said last referred to member. at the inner ends of said grooves, whereby Wires introduced into said last referred to member and connected With said binding-posts will lie Within said opposing grooves, and means for forcing said sections gripping the Wires in said grooves, for the purpose set forth.`

13. In an electric-plug, the combination ofrelatively rotatable members, one of which is formed of longitudinally-oppc-sing, opposed separable sections containing curved grooves provided with projections and opening through the end of said member, binding-posts for electric Wires located on said last referred to member at the inner ends of said grooves, whereby Wires introduced into said last referred to member and connected With said binding-posts Will lie Within said opposing grooves, and means for forcing said sections together for gripping the Wires between purpose set forth.

14. In an electric plug, the combination of relatively rotatable members one' of which said projections, for the one of which is formed together for.

is formed of longitudinally-opposing separable sections containing opposed. grooveswhich open through an end of said member, binding-posts for electric Wires yon said last referred to member at the inner ends of said grooves, whereby the wires connected vwith said binding posts lie within said said shell for preventing said members `from separating.

16. An electric plug comprising relatively? rotatable members, electrical connections on one of said members for electric Wires, a ,contact on said last referred to member in4 circuit with one of' said connections, a

threaded metal shell screwed upon the other of said members, relatively movable contacting metal members one of which is connected With the other of said connections and the other of which contacts with said shell and forms means for locking the latter in place, and means for holding said inembers in place, for the purpose set forth.

17. An electric plug comprising a member provided With electrical connections for electric wires, a contact on said member in circuit with one of said Iconnections, an apertured member, a metal member connected with the other of said connections and terminating in a spring finger extending longitudinally of said first-named member, and a threaded met-al shell for holding said rst-named and said apertured members ltog shouldered ortion for en aging with said finger, fort epurpose set or, h.

FREDERICK DEISER. In presence of JOHN WILSON,

RALPH SCHAEFER.

ther and provided withA al 

